1 / 16

“Exploding Smoke Alarms”

“Exploding Smoke Alarms”. Amy Teddy South Metro Fire Rescue Public Education Specialist 720-488-7164 a.murphy@southmetro.org. The Culprit:. WHO: BRK Brands, Inc. (First Alert) WHAT: Hard-wired smoke alarms

kemp
Download Presentation

“Exploding Smoke Alarms”

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. “Exploding Smoke Alarms” Amy Teddy South Metro Fire Rescue Public Education Specialist 720-488-7164 a.murphy@southmetro.org

  2. The Culprit: • WHO: • BRK Brands, Inc. (First Alert) • WHAT: • Hard-wired smoke alarms • Model: 4120B or 4120SB • Date: 1998 - Oct 2000 • DEFECT: • Undersized battery compartment • No recall issued by CPSC or BRK (yet) • BRK became aware of this issue & made a design change in Oct 2000 & newer units do not have this problem.

  3. History… • Summer 2002: BRK changed design • June 2005: BRK advisement (most current) • 3/13/06: phone call from “Dave” • 3/10/06: St. Louis story • 3/14/06: Philadelphia story • 5/4 & 5/5: CBS 4 Denver story

  4. What Happens… • Consumer replaces back-up battery with “Duracell” battery • “Duracell” 9-volt batteries are slightly longer than other 9-volt batteries • Improper contact with “Duracell” battery causes: • Premature draining of charge (within days or weeks) • overheat • expand • explode

  5. Reports: • Battery exploded while on the ladder to change, or shortly after removing • Series of “explosion” episodes • “Explosion sounded like a bomb in my home” • Many calls to 911 w/ fire response • Told to get units checked & replace batteries…..unknown cause • Premature and/or intermittent “chirping” • Unexplained alarms • affect of explosions on circuitry of the units? • Due to series of issues & annoyance (over yrs) = flipping circuit that eliminates electrical current to system & being unprotected

  6. Collateral Concerns • Death/Injury: • Disabled alarms • Reliability • Significant falls from ladder • Battery “debris” contact with skin and/or eyes • Cost: • $700 for an electrician to re-wire & install new units • Property loss

  7. Recommendations • South Metro Fire Rescue – St. 36 • Replacement batteries & units available • Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) • “File unsafe product” report: • 1-800-638-2772 • www.cpsc.gov

  8. Preventive Recommendations: • Use caution (especially Duracell’s) • Do not replace alone • Wash hands after handling battery • Do not touch eyes • Proper replacement batteries: • Eveready 522: sold as “Energizer Max” • Recommended by Energizer • Eveready 1222: sold as “Eveready Super Heavy Duty” • “lower performance compared to the 522”

  9. Things to know… • BRK = 9120 • Requires installation of new bracket • SMFR = 4120 • Has silencing feature easily confused w/ test

  10. Types of Smoke Alarms: • Ionization • Photoelectric • Dual-Sensor

  11. IONIZATION • $5-10 • Easy access • Standard in construction? • Flaming fire • Sensitive to minute smoke particles

  12. PHOTOELECTRIC • $20-25 • Smoldering fire • Less sensitive to normal cooking, humidity, etc.

  13. DUAL-SENSOR • $30 • Both: flames & smoke • Battery operated • Recommended • “technology has existed since 1979 & unacceptable for company to continue to market inferior product”

  14. PREVENTION is key! • Smoke alarms are one component of a comprehensive residential fire protection program….. • Early detection is crucial to escape • Large homes & battery-operated alarms

  15. Next Step…. • Contract Electrician? • Purchase dual sensor & distribute? • BRK/First Alert • Battery only • Model 3002 • Kidde • Battery only • Model PI9000 • Hard-wired • Model PI2000

  16. More info: • www.cpsc.gov • www.brkelectronics.com • www.cpnhoa.org

More Related